Man caught after chase

SANDPOINT - A Washington man came perilously close to being shot during a brief standoff with Bonner County sheriff's deputies following a high-speed chase southeast of Priest River last weekend.

The episode began unfolding on Saturday morning, when two deputies received a report that a wanted subject, Thomas David Gillock, was spotted north of Spirit Lake. They encountered Gillock in a Chevrolet pickup truck near the intersection of Spirit Lake Cutoff and Dufort roads.

Gillock, 22, allegedly fled west down Dufort, resulting in a pursuit in which speeds exceeded 90 mph in a 45 mph zone, court records indicate. The vehicle Gillock was driving was found backed into a stand of trees on a side road.

Deputies converged on the vehicle with guns drawn and ordered Gillock to raise his hands, a probable cause affidavit said. Gillock, the affidavit said, instead started the pickup and put it into gear.

A deputy warned that Gillock would be shot if he did not surrender.

Gillock accelerated toward the deputies, who commanded him to stop, the affidavit said. One of the deputies began squeezing the trigger of his pistol, but the truck got stuck in the snow and stalled.

Gillock allegedly continued ignoring demands to surrender and was ultimately subdued with a Taser, according to court documents.

Gillock was charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with resisting and obstructing law officers.

Gillock made an initial appearance via video link from the Bonner County Jail. Magistrate court Judge Debra Heise set Gillock's bail at $13,000 and appointed a public defender to represent him, court records indicate.

Gillock was wanted on a Washington State Department of Corrections warrant at the time of his arrest. The vehicle he was driving was reported stolen in Newport.